Posted on 09/17/2015 10:46:18 PM PDT by CutePuppy
Most seniors may suffer from some degree of vitamin D deficiency, according to a study from researchers at University of California at Davis and Rutgers University. For the study the researchers surveyed 400 men and women with an average age of 76 in either good health or with mild cognitive impairment.
They found that nearly all of the participants showed low levels of vitamin D with 26 percent displaying a deficiency and 35 percent show what they classified as insufficiency.
"This work, and that of others, suggests that there is enough evidence to recommend that people in their 60s and older discuss taking a daily vitamin D supplement with their physicians," says Joshua Miller of Rutgers. "Even if doing so proves to not be effective, there's still very low health risk to doing it."
Charles DeCarli, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at UC Davis adds, "We expected to see declines in individuals with low vitamin D status. What was unexpected was how profoundly and rapidly [low vitamin D] impacts cognition."
Actually my internist told me that some seniors hate difficulty with VIT D synthesis from the sun. I find this quote at Parentgiving.com:
Why Are Seniors at Risk?
People over age 50 have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and the risk increases with age. As people age they lose some of their ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D also needs to be activated in the kidney before it can be used by the body and this function also decreases with age. Finally, elderly people who are homebound are less likely to get outdoor exercise and activity. Researchers have suggested that it takes up to 30 minutes of sun exposure twice a week to make a sufficient amount of vitamin D from sunlight.
Many also have b vitamin deficiencies as well.
First they tell us to get out of the sun, but then they tell us we’re deficient in vitamin D, which is converted by the sun.
I think you touched on the issue right there.
Many seniors don’t get out of the house all that much. Not only that, when they do they have been warned to stay out of the sun. Wear hats, cover your skin, and practically wear coats as a precaution.
I think that’s borderline absurd, but that’s just me.
It may take more than what I have mentioned, but twenty minutes daily sure worked the trick for me.
I question if it’s actually a synthesizing problem, or if it’s simply a scare the living hell out of seniors problem. (as it relates to Sun exposure)
I am not a physician or a person in the medical field. I’m only applying what for me is common sense. It worked for me. I may not be a typical person my age. I don’t know that.
I may be.
You may be right. Many 70 and 80 year olds might have a harder time getting out.
There is apparently decreased synthesis, which may just mean they require more exposure.
I wouldn’t suggest folks go beyond 15 minutes of exposure per day. I’m not suggesting you can’t do harm to yourself by being in the sun too long. I think think you do need some. I do think that there should be limited exposure to sunlight. If you read up, the absorption of Vit-D by sunlight, it supposedly the best way to get it.
A supplement may be good for the 70+ set. A physician should know, but I would recommend a pharmacist first. The guys with doctorates in pharmacy have have pretty good handle on what works and what doesn’t.
They generally keep up on new meds, and can refer a person to the best med out there.
My personal rule of thumb is that nothing works as efficiently as you age so don’t expect the same results as a 30 year old.
FWIW and YMMV.
I take 5000 iu of Vit D every day. Haven’t been sick a day since I started this regimen five years ago.
Is Vit D some sort of miracle drug? Don’t know. It has apparently helped me.
wont be easily lol. but thank you for the prayers!!
Very good article.
Thank you.
Well, that might work during the summer.
But sadly, during the winter months, even at somewhat good latitudes like CA, the sun is simply too far south of the zenith to work.
Off to Kiwiland says I! :)
There ya go!
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Sounds like, in a sense, you are getting younger!
Vitamin D deficiency is generally caused by magnesium deficiency. Below is a list of the types of magnesium and how effective they are:
Magnesium oxide: Often used in milk of magnesia products since this form has a strong laxative effect. Even though this combination contains a large proportion of magnesium compared to the oxide molecule, it has poor bioavailability and readily causes loose stools; therefore it is considered the least optimal form to use as a supplement.
Magnesium sulfate: This form is often used as an intravenous preparation but it is not used in oral formulations. Since it does have some absorbability through the skin, it is also found in Epsom bath salts.
Magnesium citrate: A commonly used form that has a good bioavailability compared to oxide. It is also very rapidly absorbed in the digestive tract but it does have a stool loosening effect.1 This form is found in many supplements and remains a solid option for delivering magnesium into the body.
Magnesium Aspartate: This form has increased bioavailability compared to oxide and citrate. There were some promising clinical trials conducted in the 1960s that found a combination of magnesium and potassium aspartates had a positive effect on fatigue and they reduced muscle hyper-excitability.2 Physiologically this makes sense since both magnesium and aspartic acid are critical players in cellular energy production. This form is not commonly found but has been used for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Magnesium Glycinate: Glycine is a well-known calming amino acid. This combination has good bioavailability and does not have a laxative effect since glycine is actively transported through the intestinal wall. Due to the calming and relaxing effect of both glycine and magnesium, this combination has been used successfully for chronic pain and muscle hyper tonicity.
3
Magnesium Malate: This less well-known combination has been studied for use in fibromyalgia. Since malate is a substrate in the cellular energy cycle, it can help improve ATP production; there is some preliminary evidence that it may reduce muscle pain and tender points in fibromyalgia patients.
4
Magnesium Orotate: This is another relatively unknown chelate combination containing orotic acid. This form has good bioavailability has had been studied specifically for heart health. Orotates can penetrate cell membranes, enabling the effective delivery of the magnesium ion to the innermost layers of the cellular mitochondria and nucleus. Orotates themselves increase the formation of RNA and DNA which can help heart cells repair and therefore improve function. The combination has been shown to improve heart failure, symptoms of angina and exercise performance in clinical trials.5,6
Magnesium Taurate: Both magnesium and the amino acid taurine share the ability to improve cardiac function; each has a potentiating effect on insulin sensitivity and also a calming effect on neuromuscular excitability. The actions of both have striking similarities when it comes to cardiovascular health. They both have blood pressure reducing effects, stabilize nerve cells, improve the contraction of the heart muscle and have an anti-thrombotic effect.7 Additionally, low levels of vitamin B6 have been shown to further deplete both magnesium and taurine.
Magnesium-L-Threonate: This form of magnesium has recently been studied to improve memory and brain function. One preliminary study in animals found that it significantly enhanced both short-term and long-term memory, boosting scores by 15% for short-term memory and 54% for long-term memory compared to magnesium citrate.8 Based on this study, it appears that magnesium-L-threonate is a highly absorbable form of magnesium that can improve brain function. While this research is promising, more is needed to confirm its benefit.
Magnesium Pidolate (or picolinate): This form of magnesium has generated interest because it is very inexpensive and can easily be made into a liquid supplement. There really have not been any substantial research trials supporting its specific health benefits. The down side of this form is that the pidolate molecule does not have any additional health benefits.
Due to its broad ranging beneficial effects, magnesium has really emerged as a quintessential health supplement with an excellent safety profile. Various forms of magnesium can be employed for specific health concerns and to increase bioavailability. Consider the research evidence and activity of each form to choose one that is most appropriate for you.
Good for you! That is impressive.
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